The Royal 2010s: the Silver King and Queen

As the 2010s come to an end, minds turn to reflection and remembering. The middle of the decade just gone saw special celebrations in Norway for a king and queen who were already well loved and who ended their jubilee even more popular than before. Harald V took the throne of Norway on a cold January day but despite the snow and frost, tens of thousands turned out to celebrate with him in 2016 when he became his country’s Silver King.

Celebration Dinner

The night before Jubilee Day, King Harald had welcomed his family and royal guests to Skaugum, outside Oslo, for a special dinner. The royal residence, now home to his only son Crown Prince Haakon, was where the monarch had been born in 1937. And as he prepared to mark this special milestone, it was where he began his celebrations.

During the meal, Harald and Sonja posed for a photograph alongside the other queens and king attending their celebrations – Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia of Sweden and Margrethe II of Norway.

Everyone’s Welcome at the Silver Jubilee

Harald became King of Norway on January 17th 1991 on the death of his beloved father, King Olav V, and exactly 25 years later he led his family in a church service remembering the man they had lost. After that ceremony, in the Chapel of the Royal Palace in Oslo, it was time for the party to start and the Norwegian Royal Family put on their boots and headed out into the snow.

The centrepiece of this celebration was a winter sports event, open to the public, where the royals rubbed shoulders with their fellow citizens as they enjoyed an afternoon of activity.

The king and queen spoke of how touched they were that so many people wanted to celebrate their jubilee with them while opinion polls taken on the day put approval ratings for the whole royal family at record highs.

The affection in which Harald and Sonja are held was on show later that same day as thousands cheered them as they walked to a special Jubilee concert in the centre of Oslo. The King and Queen of Norway seemed almost overcome with emotion as they were showered with support for their very special celebration.